Tag: American Painter

My Abundant Life 7-20-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

July 20th, 2026

True North

“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

Ursula K. LeGuin (American Author, October 21st, 1929 to January 22nd, 2018)

“I used to believe that happiness could only be found after arriving at my heart’s destination. Explorers call it true north.”

“…I’ve learned that the spirit of our journey is as important, perhaps even more important, than the arrival at our destination. In order for us to realize genuine happiness, we must be willing to court contentment every step of the way. For after all, the journey is really all that most of us will ever know. Day in, day out. The journey is real life.”

“I found myself saying to myself…I can’t live where I want to…I can’t go where I want to…I can’t do what I want to. I can’t even say what I want to. I decided I was a very stupid fool not to at least paint as I wanted to…that seemed to be the only thing I could do that didn’t concern anybody but myself.”

Georgia O’Keeffe (American Painter; November 15th, 1887 to March 6th, 1986)

“…we can certainly learn slowly to follow her example, to carve out time for rewarding reveries that acquaint us with our authentic selves and give us glimpses of true north.”

“For it’s during our expectant hours–those hours that might once have been called ‘idle’–that we are most pregnant with our own potential.”

“..store up reservoirs of calm and content… and draw on them at later moments when the source isn’t there but the need is very great.”

Rupert Brooke (English Poet; August 3rd, 1887 to April 23rd, 1915)

“This skill–the soulcraft of devoutly caring for our authentic selves–rarely comes naturally or easily. But with practice, with patience, with perseverance, it does come.”

“Listening and peeling away the layers to get to my authentic self has been the most extraordinary journey of my life!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 265 to 266 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-25-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 25th, 2026

On a Clear Day You can See Forever

“The greatest thing a human being ever does in this world is to see something. …To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion, all in one.”

John Ruskin (English Polymath and Writer; February 8th, 1819 to January 20th, 1900)

“If only we could pull out our brains and use only our eyes.”

Pablo Picasso (Spanish Painter and Sculptor; October 25th, 1881 to April 8th, 1973)

“One eye sees, the other feels.”

Paul Klee (Swiss-German Artist; December 18th, 1879 to June 29th, 1940)

“In a way nobody sees a flower really, it is so small, we haven’t the time–and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”

Georgia O’Keeffe (American Painter; November 15th, 1887 to March 6th, 1986)

“To see takes time. We haven’t the time. Here is the unrelenting truth and it’s chilling to the soul. Most of us have been given a miraculous gift–the ability to see–but we don’t take the time to do more than glance around. We take our sense of sight for granted.”

“I love my ability to see, just look at all the eagle sightings I post. I have a bit of an eagle eye.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 131 to 132 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 1-13-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant Life2 Comments

January 13th, 2026

Gratitude: Awakening the Heart

“The eyes of my eyes are opened.”

Edward Estlin Cummings (known as: E.E. Cummings) (American Poet, Painter, Essayist, Author, and Playwright; October 14th, 1894 ~ September 3rd, 1962)

“…what you give to the world will be returned to you—maybe not all at once or in the way you expect it—but if you give your very best, the very best will come back to you.”

“I have always believed in paying it forward. I have great abundance in my life that is surely because of what I have put forth into others and the world.” (Heather Houston 1-13-22 & 1-13-26)

“..my personal net worth couldn’t possibly be determined by the size of my checking account balance.”

“Absolutely! I choose to see my life as abundant. Cash-flow challenges do not define me or create my context of abundance.” (Heather 1-13-22)

“My net worth for life is HUGE! I have the most amazing husband, I am healthy (my scale is even telling me I am getting younger), I am employed and I live each day like it was a party by making love to my husband, enjoying a delicious cocktail, eating a fabulous home cooked meal and spending the evening curled up on the couch with my love…SIMPLY PERFECT!” (Heather Houston 1-13-26)

“…pause for a moment and give thanks. Let your heart awaken to the transforming power of gratefulness. Be open to exchanging your need for emotional and financial security for serenity.”

“No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.”

Agnes de Mille (American dancer and choreographer; September 18th, 1905 ~ October 7th, 1993)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 12-14 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.